Christmas Favorites: Movies

One week until Christmas

I’ve said it once before, but I have to say it again…I cannot believe how fast this month has flown by! It really has gone by too fast.

I am a hopeless Christmas sap. Christmas is my favorite time of the year and I love everything about it – the spirit in the air, the music, the movies…

I’ll admit, I’m one who began watching Christmas movies mid-November when the Hallmark Channel began playing them. A typical afternoon at my house consists of a room a room aglow with Christmas lights and a Christmas movie playing on the television. I’m going to be sad when this time of the year is over.

Throughout the years, I’ve collected a few movie favorites, and I’m going to share them with you today. I’ve watched these movies from the comfort of my couch, while doing housework, while putting up the Christmas decorations, and even while running on the treadmill.

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Mickey’s Christmas Carol

It's the same old classic Charles Dickens story with an all star Disney cast. Uncle Scrooge McDuck is appropriately enough Scrooge and is visited by his dead partner and 3 spirits one night to remember the joys of Christmas.

Mickey’s Christmas Carol is my most-favorite Christmas special!

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The Holiday

In London, Iris Simpkins writes a wedding column in a newspaper and nurtures an unrequited love for her colleague Jasper Bloom. Near Christmas, she is informed that Jasper is engaged to marry another colleague, and her life turns upside down. In Los Angeles, the movie-trailers maker Amanda Woods has just split with her unfaithful boyfriend Ethan and wants to forget him. Through a house exchange website, Amanda impulsively swaps her mansion for Iris' cottage in Surrey for the holidays. While in Surrey, Amanda meets Iris' brother and book editor Graham and they fall in love with each other. Meanwhile, Iris meets her new next door neighbor the ninety year old screenplay writer Arthur, who helps her retrieve her self-esteem, and the film composer Miles, with whom she falls in love.

I love love love this movie! I watch it every year while decorating my house for Christmas, this year was no exception!

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If you’ve watched Hallmark Channel Movies in the past, you know that some have an element of cheesiness to them. I’ve watched several Hallmark Channel movies this year and I can vouch for the following….while a small, slight, miniscule element of cheesiness exists, these are movies I could watch over and over again!

The remaining movies are a part of Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas.

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Snow Bride

When a reporter encounters the eldest son of a famous political family at a mountain retreat, she winds up pretending to be his girlfriend over Christmas so he can save face with his family. Should she secretly expose newsworthy scoops about the famous family in order to save her job, or trust that she's falling in love for real? Stars Patricia Richardson and Katrina Law.

I think this one is my favorite “new”  movie for 2013 (as in, brand new in 2013).

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A Very Merry Mix-up

Alice thinks she is heading to her fiancé’s hometown to meet his parents and spend the holidays, but a mix up at the airport lands her at the wrong home. However this “wrong” family is just her sort of people and she quickly forms a bond with them, especially with the handsome son, Matt. When she visits the "right" house, will her destiny take a detour? Stars Alicia Witt.

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Let It Snow

A resort executive is sent to a newly purchased lodge in Maine with instructions to turn it in to an ultra-modern resort, and finds a charming, successful lodge loaded with holiday spirit. Will she stick with her boss’s plans to tear everything down or find a way to save what she has come to love? Stars Candace Cameron-Bure and Alan Thicke.

I love that Candace Cameron-Bure is in this movie…she does a great job (and of course, I love her)!

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Catch A Christmas Star

Just as her latest Christmas album is being released, famous singer Nikki Crandon is reunited with her high school sweetheart and starts to believe they may be able to rekindle what they had in the past. However, problems arise in the form of pressure from her record company, an old boyfriend and the paparazzi. Will Nikki be able to overcome the many obstacles to finally be with the only man she has ever loved? Stars Shannon Elizabeth.

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Debbie Macomber’s Mrs. Miracle

Losing a spouse is always hard, and for Seth Webster (James Van Der Beek), playing single dad to two rambunctious six-year-olds doesn’t make it any easier. With the holidays approaching, finding a housekeeper has proven to be near-impossible, until Mrs. Emily Merkle (Doris Roberts) shows up at the Websters’ door, ready to turn their lives around. No sooner has “Mrs. Miracle,” as Seth’s boys call her, straightened up the house, than Seth meets Reba Maxwell (Erin Karpluk), best friend to the Webster kids’ first-grade teacher. After just one date, Seth and Reba find they have a lot in common. Since the death of his music-loving wife, Seth has been unable to play a single chord on the piano, and, in the name of her career, Reba, once an avid actress, has avoided the theater. With a Christmas pageant to prepare for and a fresh romance on the horizon, Mrs. Miracle definitely has her work cut out for her and proves to be more than just a normal nanny.

Hands down my favorite Hallmark Christmas movie of all time! I’ll admit, I was originally drawn to this movie because of James Van Der Beek, but I really love this movie!

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What do you think? Are you a hopeless Christmas romantic? What’s your favorite Christmas movies to watch during the holiday season?

P.S. – I left out Christmas Vacation on purpose – it’s a Christmas tradition for my family which will be shared in an upcoming post.

Thoughts on Spirit of the Marathon II

Did you see Spirit of the Marathon II last night in theaters?

I did, and I couldn’t have been more excited! One of my BRF’s (Kelli) agreed to accompany me for dinner and a movie and we had a great time!

Our original plan was to eat at McAlister's for dinner – you know I never pass up the opportunity for McAlisters sweet tea! After discovering that O’Charleys was running a special for FREE PIE Wednesdays, we quickly changed our minds. Free Pie, I’m so there!  (It was delicious and worth every bite, too.)

I had a laugh when we parked at the movie theater, there were several cars around with 13.1 or 26.2 stickers on their windows…we knew we were in great company!

We were able to sit with several running group friends in the theater – it did feel kind of odd to see them in “normal” clothing! :0) My local theater was rather empty, I was sad to see just a handful of people sitting down when we walked in.

What were my thoughts of the movie? I loved it! I got chills when the Rome Marathon began, I cried when Julie discussed her father and qualifying for Boston, my heart broke for some as their ultimate goals were not met, and I cheered with the first timers (and everyone) who crossed the finish line.

Spirit of the Marathon II showcased running at its finest. This movie inspired me, lifted me up, and I became even more excited about my next running journey.

(Perhaps one of my favorite parts of the movie was Jeff Galloway in his runDisney hat! LOVED it!) :0)

Did you see Spirit of the Marathon II? What were your thoughts?

Disclaimer: I was provided two free passes for Spirit of the Marathon II for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.  Despite receiving the passes, I would have gone to see this movie on my own.

Spirit of the Marathon II

When I began training for my very first marathon, I was like a sponge. I purchased books, I read blogs, I followed training plans…but it just wasn’t enough. I was hungry for more.

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Enter: Spirit of the Marathon.

I absolutely ADORED this documentary. I watched it several times while training for my first Full Marathon and as the countdown to race weekend approached, I found myself thinking about the documentary more and more. I cried and rejoiced with the runners as they crossed the finish line (I’ll admit, I still tear up). Knowing that each runner had a different goal and trained in their own way to complete the same race, same distance, same day – it’s insane to think about!

While nervously waiting in the New Orleans airport for our plane to Orlando, I listened to Spirit of the Marathon on Netflix on my iPhone. The words comforted and soothed me – helped me to relax during a time when relaxation was far from my mind.

2011, nervous yet excited about my first Full Marathon

I realized that once we boarded the plane and were in the air, I would no longer be able to watch and listen to those words that were such a comfort to me – it seemed to be the only thing holding me together at that moment.

What did I do? I did what any normal human being would do – I pulled out my Disney autograph book (doesn’t every normal adult have one in their carry on?) and I began taking notes. Logical, right?

*grin* These notes were my saving grace.

As a matter of fact, just two short years later, I found myself in the same airport, making the same trip to Orlando for yet another Marathon weekend…only this time, I was nervous for an entirely different reason. I was about to complete my first Goofy’s Challenge on a knee that didn’t want to cooperate at times.

2013, ready for my first Goofy’s Challenge adventure

Enter: Spirit of the Marathon – yes, AGAIN!

SO, can you imagine my excitement when I discovered that Spirit of the Marathon Part TWO was being released…and to theaters?!

“Spirit of the Marathon II” focuses on seven inspiring individuals whose lives will forever be transformed by the experience of preparing for the 2012 Rome Marathon in Italy. The event also features inspirational interviews with marathon greats Stefano Baldini, Paula Radcliffe, Frank Shorter, Kathrine Switizer and others as they offer perspective into this legendary race and its history. Deleted scenes and memorable outtakes from the filming of the documentary will also be included.

Additionally, the film’s producers—along with NCM Fathom Events and movie theater circuit partners AMC Entertainment Inc., Cinemark Holdings, Inc. and Regal Entertainment Group—will donate a portion of the proceeds from the “Spirit of the Marathon II” event to The One Fund Boston, assisting families affected by the tragic events of the 2013 Boston Marathon on April 15.

How awesome is that?!

Here’s the details!

• Spirit of the Marathon II will play in select U.S. theaters for one night only….Wednesday, June 12 at 7:00 p.m. local time.
  
• Tickets for “Spirit of the Marathon II” are available at participating theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com.
  
• There’s over 600 theaters broadcasting this special – to search for a list of hosting theaters near you, click here.

If I didn’t convince you that you MUST see this movie, check out the trailer.

I’ll be sure to bring a few tissues, because I know I’ll shed happy tears at the end! Wait…who I am kidding? A few? I’m tearing up just watching the trailer….better bring a pack of tissue!

It’s going to be EPIC. Don’t miss it!!

Are you going to see Spirit of the Marathon II? If you saw Spirit of the Marathon I, what were your thoughts?